Improvement



A. G. BARNARD, OF SEVILLE, OHIO.

llVlPROVElVlENT IN FENCE-GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,387, dated May 8, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. G. BARNARD, of Seville, in the county of Medina and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm-Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of the gate when it is closed. Fig. 2 represents the gate open.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the views.

My improvement relates to certain improvements in the manner of hanging gates, as hereinafter described.

A represents the gate, constructed with boards running lengthwise, secured at one end between pieces or strips B.

O is a brace extending diagonally across the gate from the upper corner of the end that opens to the lower corner of the other end.

E E are posts placed one side of each other and a little distance apart, that the ends of the boards 01 of the fence extend between, and likewise the boards of the gate. The fence-boards are secured to the posts, but the boards of the gate are free and rest upon the boards of the fence. The upper portion of the boards of the fence and lower portion of the boards of the gate are cut out a little distance, equal to onehalf the width of the boards, where they mutually fit into each other, as at b. The gate thus hangs and swings upon the ends of the fence-boards, each board acting as a support for the gate, and the boards of the fence being nailed to the posts, they are rendered firm and strong in their position, and form a substantial support for the gate to rest and swing upon. Across this end of the gate, to the boards is attached a strip, D, placed in an inclined position, being inclined upward toward the free end of the gate, forming an angle with the posts of the fence, as represented.

From the construction of this gate and the manner in which it is hung, as described, it has two centers of motion, or the axis upon which it moves is inclined outward from the top to the bottom. The point at the top of the gate is at a, where the strip D comes against the upper end of the post E, and at the lower end it is at a, where the end of the brace 0 comes against the post, E, acting upon the principle of a long hinge at the lower end and a short one at the top, that will cause the gate, as it swings open, to ascend or incline upward at the outer end, as seen in Fig. 2, when the strip D will be in a vertical position against the post E, bringing the two points of motion in a perpendicular line. The gate will then balance, or its gravity be thrown in the rear, retaining the gate open. When the gate begins to close its gravity will be thrown forward of the gate, causing it to swing shut by its own gravity and latch in the ordinary way.

The gate inclining upward as it opens causes it to pass readily over obstructions or any clef vation of the ground.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The strip D and posts E E, in combination with the brace O and gate A, cut out, as at b, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A. G. BARNARD.

Witnesses:

J OHN OOOLMAN, CALVIN GHAPIN. 

